Gambling: Yes or No?

Gambling: Yes or No?

Las Vegas is widely known for its legal gambling, while people
say gambling is part of the culture in China. In Malaysia
gambling is legal only for certain groups of people.

While in Indonesia gambling is illegal but - ironically - it
prevails.

Article 303 of the Criminal Code and Article 2 of Law No.
7/1974 rule that gambling operators and gamblers are subject to
10 years imprisonment and a Rp 25,000 fine.

Despite the ban, various types of gambling still exist. In the
capital city we find several examples of small-time gambling
activities around us.

In most residential areas people stay up the night at
cigarette stalls with cards in their hands, betting between Rp
2,500 and Rp 5,000 a round -- "just for fun". The popular togel
(illegal lottery) among the grass roots in almost all kampongs in
Jakarta is another example.

On a bigger scale, illegal gambling dens spread throughout all
parts of the capital city, including several gambling dens in
downtown, West Jakarta, Central and North Jakarta can be cited as
examples. However, the complex is usually "heavily" guarded. A
casino in West Jakarta, for example, is guarded by four armed
personnel, who make it impossible for strangers to enter the
vicinity. Nevertheless. a gambler said that police knew of the
operation of the casinos, adding that several police officers
actually protected the activities.

Amazingly, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani claimed
he had no idea there were casinos and gambling dens in Jakarta.
One interesting quote from the general is worth repeating: "You
tell us where (the gambling activities are), and we will raid
them. So far, we have only received false information."

Contrary to his claim, only in February this year, a police
raid on a house used as a gambling den in Taman Palem, West
Jakarta, almost sparked a gun battle between a group of police
officers from the National Police and a group of West Jakarta
policemen.

Following the shameful incident, National Police chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar concluded that local police were protecting
gambling activities in the area. Unconfirmed sources said that
the organizer of the Taman Palem gambling den regularly paid a Rp
3 billion fee to West Jakarta Police, the Jakarta Police and the
National Police for protection.

We have the laws, we have the enforcers, but the laws are not
enforced.

Amid reports on the persistent gambling and poor law
enforcement, former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, who is known
for legalizing gambling and prostitution during his tenure
between 1966 and 1977, has suggested that gambling in Jakarta be
legalized by establishing legal gambling zones. Recalling his own
success, he argued that the city administration could collect a
huge amount of money from casinos and gambling dens to finance
city development projects.

As predicted, the idea has provoked strong reactions from the
Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). MUI edict commission head Muarif
Amin said that legal gambling zones would only justify the
building of more gambling dens.

Ida Ruwaida, a sociologist from the University of Indonesia
said legalizing gambling would trigger unrest, protests and
possible riots as legalizing gambling means forcing many people
to accept values against their own.

Jakarta-based legal expert Rudy Satrio said that legalizing
gambling would be proof that the country had given up its duty of
enforcing the law.

Some may say that Ali Sadikin was trying to be more realistic,
and - to some extent his suggestion is reasonable, judging from
the fact that the existing laws have never been enforced
properly. However, if his suggestion were accepted by the city
administration, the laws would all have to be revised.

The MUI stance is of course acceptable from the existing
religious and legal point of view.

Experience has shown that banning any form of gambling has
been ineffective. But controlling it is another matter. From such
a perspective Ali Sadikin's proposal could be considered
"realistic", in spite of the fact that many have expressed
objections.

Things change. And our surroundings have been changing
steadily. Jakarta is moving toward a megalopolis in the region.

And Singapore, one of our closest neighbors in the region is
considering establishing a casino, after long public debate.
While we in Jakarta, must admit that in reality thousands or
probably millions of our citizens love gambling, whether we like
it or not.

Within its dubiety, it is high time for the Jakarta
administration to introduce a new healthy habit: Public debate. A
review of the existing laws that ban gambling could become the
subject of a debate, which must be arranged in a fair and sincere
manner.

Through open public debates, we will finally let the public
decide whether they want Jakarta to be like Las Vegas, accept
gambling as part of the culture like China, copy Malaysia which
legalizes gambling to some extent (with very strict control and
professional law enforcement), or keep banning all forms of
gambling, a policy that has never shown any success.